Civil Protection and Residents to Discuss Possible Eruption

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Civil Protection and Residents to Discuss Possible Eruption

The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management in Iceland will meet with emergency response organizations and stakeholders, including farmers, in Húsavík, North Iceland, at midday today to discuss the possible upcoming eruption and glacial outburst flood in Bárðarbunga volcano. Similar meetings will take place in Egilsstaðir, Öxarfjörður and the Mývatn area, ruv.is reports.

Seismic activity in Bárðarbunga continued through the night. Most of the earthquakes were at a 8-11 km depth but several were at 5-6 km.

The National Crisis Coordination Centre was fully activated on Tuesday night after the decision was taken to evacuate the highlands north of Dyngjujökull in Vatnajökull glacier. The area is now closed. The area that has now been closed is both large in size and unpopulated.

There are still no signs of an eruption but security measures have been taken since it would not be possible to evacuate the area in time should a sub-glacial outburst flood occur from Vatnajökull as a result of an eruption.

The Icelandic Coast Guard airplane made a surveillance flight over the area yesterday with scientists and representatives of the Coast Guard, the University of Iceland’s Institute of Earth Sciences and Safe Travel to collect information with thermal cameras and radar. Seismometers and GPS stations were also set up.